take with a grain of salt

Meaning

This expression means to view something with skepticism or not to believe it completely. It is used when listening to advice, news, or gossip from an unreliable source, or when someone is prone to exaggeration. The tone is practical, cautious, and neutral.

Examples

• You should take everything he says with a grain of salt; he tends to exaggerate.

  You should take everything he says with a grain of salt; he tends to exaggerate.

• I read the online reviews, but I always take them with a grain of salt.

  I read the online reviews, but I always take them with a grain of salt.

• She gave me some medical advice, but I took it with a grain of salt since she isn't a doctor.

  She gave me some medical advice, but I took it with a grain of salt since she isn't a doctor.

• This study was funded by a fast-food chain, so take the results with a grain of salt.

  This study was funded by a fast-food chain, so take the results with a grain of salt.

• It's a good rumor, but I'd take it with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation.

  It's a good rumor, but I'd take it with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You must take his words with a pinch of sugar.

  ✓ You must take his words with a grain of salt.

  In English, the idiom uses 'salt' (either a grain or a pinch). 'Sugar' is never used in this idiom.

• ✗ I took her advice with a salty grain.

  ✓ I took her advice with a grain of salt.

  The word order is fixed. You cannot turn 'grain of salt' into 'salty grain' or similar variations.

Related Expressions

Practice

• His stories are always dramatic, so I usually ___.

  💡 Don't believe them completely.

  Show answer

  take them with a grain of salt

• You should ___ what you read on social media.

  💡 Be skeptical of.

  Show answer

  take with a grain of salt